Physical beauty certainly isn’t one of life’s highest priorities (let’s give some love to smarts and strength) but it’s reassuring to see that society’s standards around it are changing for the better.

Scientists from Boston University School of Medicine have analysed People magazine’s World’s Most Beautiful list, comparing the celebs featured in its 1990 issue to the ones included in 2017.

Surprisingly, the average age of those deemed most aesthetically pleasing has risen from 33.2 to 38.9.

This year, Julia Roberts, 49, topped the list along with additions like Reese Witherspoon, 41, Viola Davis, 51 and Taraji Henson, 46.

The list has also become more diverse.

“At present, a wider variety of skin colours and inclusion of older age groups are represented among those deemed to be the most beautiful,” the researchers concluded.

“The mass media platform has for years introduced certain criteria for what constitutes beauty.

“Through an examination of the WMB (World’s Most Beautiful) issue of People, we found that these beauty standards are evolving as people learn how to integrate the effects of media with exposure to new cultures and different norms.”

While these famous ladies have a lot more help dolling up, the shift in beauty standards is certainly something to be applauded. 

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